by Jim Provenzano

Called "the biggest non-event in San Francisco
history," the October 31 Castro district Halloween cancellation relieves
many and worries others. But on every day this week, and in other parts of town
â€“ SoMa, Polk, even Hayes Valleyâ€“ costumed cavorting opportunities
abound.

Saturday, the biggest arena for hunky costumed dudes will be
the Gladiator Orgy. At this 300-inspired
toga party with a Greco-Roman-theme, come as your favorite Spartan or
Greco-Roman toga-clad warrior, senator, god or goddess. The costume contest
hosted by Heklina includes celebrity
judges Chi-Chi LaRue, Supervisor
Tom Ammiano, and the Real
World's David Mallory. DJ Brett
Henrichsen. $30-$40. 10:30pm-late. 525
Harrison St. at 1st. www.guspresents.com/orgy

For fun drag in the center of the Castro â€“hey, it's
still open Saturday night- Cookie Dough
hosts The Monster Show at
Harvey's, a night of scary drag acts, with Pollo Del Mar, Ambrosia Salad, Khadijah, Steven Satyricon and
lots more dragtastics. $7. 10pm, show at 11pm. 500 Castro St. at 18th. www.cookievision.com

Heklina and Peaches Christ's Oct. 31 Halloween party at the
Cat Club.

Remember when kids actually trick-or-treated door to door?
If you don't go to nightclubs and are a parent, the Monster Mash Potluck
at the LGBT Center, also Saturday, is a special
party for LGBT families and kids. Costumes are encouraged. Bring a themed
covered dish or dessert; co-sponsored by the Center, Our Family Coalition, and
COLAGE. Free. 5pm-8pm. Rainbow Room, 1800 Market St. at Octavia. 981-1960. www.thecenter.org

Sunday, Oct. 28, get a mask or a pair of tights and dance
with your favorite X-Man at Mask at 715
Harrison. This sexy costume party for adults includes DJ Rob Kaftan, and costumes are required! (I love that.) Last
year, called "Strangers With Candy," the club night had lots of hunky
superheroes and a few macho monsters. $30. 5pm-midnight. 715 Harrison St.
www.masksf.com

Also Wednesday, for "Cruella" and unusual
entertainment, at Disney Halloween: The Dark Side at Marlena's, Jason Ladd,
Marlena and the drag stars of
the Hayes Valley Follies perform. Come as your favorite evil Disney character
(or good one gone bad!). $200 in costume prizes. Register by 10pm. show at
11pm. 488 Hayes St. 864-6672.

For more events going on outside the Castro, and info on the
effort to steer people elsewhere, visit www.homeforhalloween.com.

Events Oct. 26 â€“ Nov. 1, 2007

Fri 26

The Bluest Eye @
Lorraine Hansberry Theatre

Lydia Diamond's stage adaptation of Toni Morrison's first
novel, about a young Black girl and her family in the 1940s; West Coast
premiere of this 2005 play, which premiered at Chicago's Steppenwolf Theater's
Young Adult Series. $18-$36. Thu-Sat 8pm. Sun 2pm. Thru Nov. 4. 620 Sutter St.
at Mason. 474-8800. www.lhtsf.org

Living Word Project presents Scourge, Joseph's fusion of hiphop, spoken word, live music
and dance, about the history of Haiti, its culture, mythos and influences.
$10-$25. $65 for Oct 27 benefit. Also Nov. 1-3. www.odctheater.org

Hula dance troupe performs director Patrick Makuakane's O'ahu:
Confessions of an Island, a storytelling
musical work about the history and culture of O'ahu, with traditional and
modern hula dance and music, even a few disco tunes in a tribute to the
island's gay history. $30-$35. Fri-Sat, 8pm. Sun 2pm (Noon and 3pm, Oct. 28).
Thru Oct. 28, when a hula class is also offered at noon for $10. Bay and Lyon
Sts. 392-4400. www.cityboxoffice.comwww.naleihulu.org

Screening of fascinatingly morbid short films, A Second and
Final Rest: The History of San Franciscoï¿½s Lost Cemeteries
by Trina Lopez, Cartography of Ashes
by Dolissa Medina, and Gravediggers
by Justin Schein. $10. 8pm. 275 Capp St. 558-8117. www.oddballfilm.com

New production of John Guare's comic drama, inspired by real
events, about a young man who pretends to be the gay nephew of Sidney Poitier
to gain access to (gullible) upper crust New Yorkers. $38-$65. Wed-Sat 8pm, Sat
3pm. Thru Nov. 17. 533 Sutter St. near Mason. 677-9596. www.sfplayhouse.org

Yes, you can enjoy Halloween in the Castro â€“ on Sunday.
$500 in prizes. No cover. 3pm-7pm. 4086 18th St. www.SFMixBar.com

Desperate
Divas Calendar Party @ Under One Roof

Meet the calendar drag stars and buy a signed calendar.
5pm-8pm. 549 Castro St. www.underoneroof.org

Edward
Gorey's Dracula @
Cartoon Art Museum

Exhibit of prints by the artist whose work inspired The
Addams Family; set designs. memorabilia and
costumes for the Broadway show about the classic vampire. $2-$6. Tues-Sun,
11am-5pm. Thru Jan. 20. 655
Mission St. at 2nd. 227-8666. www.edwardgoreyhouse.orgwww.cartoonart.org

Dog masquerade party and contest for "fetish pups and
their handlers." Cat owners; bring a photo of your puss in costume.
Proceeds benefit PAWS (Pets Are Wonderful Support) $10. 2pm-4pm. 4233 19th St.
at Collingwood. www.pawssf.org

Halloween T-Dance @ Ruby Skye

Keep the costumes skimpy, since you'll be sweating on the
dance floor as DJ Phil B. spins. $20-$25. 21+. 5:30pm-11:30pm. 420 Mason St. at
Geary. www.freshsf.com

Octoberfest @ Most Holy Redeemer Church

Beers, German sausages, traditional music and possibly hunks
in lederhosen at this benefit; proceeds help the church's AIDS support group.
$5-$20. 11:30am-3pm. 18th St. at Diamond. 863-1581. www.mhr.org

Sports
Community Day @ Eureka Valley Rec. Center

Lenny Broberg hosts a day celebrating the Gay Games' 25th
anniversary, with sports demonstrations, activities for adults, kids, even
dogs, snacks, souvenirs, and info on registering for Gay Games VIII in Cologne.
Free. 12pm-4pm. Collingwood at 18th St.
www.gaygames.com/25
www.teamsf.org

Gay Artists and Writers Kollective has a performance with
Kittie Perm and Paullette. 7pm. 4122 18th St. at Castro. 731 2424.
www.magnetsf.org

Lance Bass @ Books Inc

Former *NSYNC singer signs copies of his autobiography Out
of Sync, about coming out and being a gay
pop star. Free (no memorabilia signing, just the book). 7:30pm. 2275 Market St.
at Noe. 864-6777. www.booksinc.net

OutRanks @ GLBT
Historical Society

Timely exhibit about GLBT soldiers, sailors, and other
military veterans, and the history of the antigay policies in the military. See
almost 70 years of history told through letters, photographs, medals, uniforms,
and video footage. $4. 1pm-5pm. Tue.-Sat. 657 Mission St. at 2nd, Suite 300.
777-5455. www.glbthistory.org

Costume party for transgenders and friends, with food, beer
and wine for sale. Proceeds benefit Day of Remembrance activities. Sponsored by
SF TEAM (Transgender, Empowerment, Advocacy, and Mentorship ). $25. 6pm-9pm.
1800 Market St. at Octavia. www.sfteam.orgwww.thecenter.org

Exhibit of digital photographs by and of Asian and Pacific
Islanders living with HIV. Organized and mounted by Visual Aid and the Banyan
Tree Project. Free. 9am-7pm. Thru Nov. 30. 2262 Market St. at Noe. 777-8242. www.banyantreeproject.org

Nightmare on Polk St. @ The Cinch

Lucy Borden hosts a scary drag show with Anna Conda, Miss Nix,
Karen Kill and many more at 10pm. Costume contest at 11pm. 21+. 1723 Polk St.
776-4162.

Brazilian vocalist performs a live concert of exuberant bossa
nova with her band. $36-$62. 8pm. Bancroft Way at Telegraph Ave. (510)
642-9988. www.calperformances.net

Ladies Night @ Mecca

Return of the popular cocktail women's night out. 5pm-on. 2029
Market St. near Church.

Light Up the Night @ Various Corners

SF Bicycle Coalition and MTA givbe away bike lights to
cyclists, while supplies last. 5pm-7pm, Market St. at Duboce, Howard St. at
8th, Valencia St. at 17th, Valencia St. at Cesar Chavez, McAllister St. at
Webster, and Polk St. at California. www.sfbike.org

Lucy Jane Bledsoe @ Laurel Books, Berkeley

Author of several books reads from and discusses her latest
novel, Biting the Apple, about an
ex-Olympic sprinter and her stalking ex-girlfriend. Free. 7:30pm. 4100
MacArthur Blvd. (510) 531-2073. www.lucyjanebledsoe.com

New exhibit documenting the 25-year history of the Gay Games,
with materials from the James C. Hormel Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender
(GLBT) Archival Collections of the Libraryï¿½s San Francisco History Center;
curated by Rose Mary Mitchell. Thru Dec. 20. Third floor, James C. Hormel Library.110 Larkin St. at Grove. 557-4400. www.sfpl.org